North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un has not been spotted or photographed by the country's media for over a month now. The leader, who was last seen on September 3 attending a military drill, has disappeared from the public's eye, fuelling speculation about his health, his grip on the North Korean throne, a silent coup and concern about the future of the nation.
Kim Jong Un's image and daily schedules are chronicled through North Korea's sate media on a daily basis. They form a huge part of the country's news coverage. This has not been the case for the last month.
Kim was last spotted on September 3 when he ordered all the army generals to take part in a military training drill. He also took part in the drill himself. They were crawling and running around, and that is when he hurt himself. The overweight supreme leader is reported to have torn a tendon, further complicating a leg injury he acquired in July. Sources close to the North Korean ruling family have stated that the leader is recuperating from the injury and will be out soon. However, the reports have not been confirmed by North Korea's state media.
Different reports tell another story. Of a leader who is seriously ailing from gout and Diabetes and a sister who is said to be ruling the nation on behalf of her ill brother. Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister, is said to be the one calling the shots while Kim Jong Un is away.
North Korea is a monarchy state, which means that the ruling Kim family remains in power as long as the family has a lineage. The country has always had a member of the family at the helm. Kim Yo Jong, who holds a high ranking office in the state (deputy director of the worker's party), is very powerful. From high administrative roles to receiving intelligence briefs, she behaves just as the chief-of-staff would. Could it be that she's covering for her ailing brother?
This Friday is North Korea's 69th anniversary of the Founding of the Worker's Party. Kim Jong Un has marked the event for the last 2 years with a post midnight visit to the graves of his father and grandfather. Should he fail to make an appearance, it would serve to fuel already existing speculation as to his health.